Improvement in burglar-alarms



W.H.I MGPHERSUN'.

Burglar-Alarms.

Patented March 18, 1873.

AM. PHOTOUTHOERAFHM 00 MY. ossamvsmacmsj.)

UNITED STATES? PATENT OFFICE- WILLIAM H. McPHERSON, or NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR To WM. A. T. GODFROY AND DANL. BENNETT, orsAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN BURG'LAR-ALARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 139,016, dated March 18, 1873.

Nature and Objects of the Invention.

The alarm is sounded or the animal shot by' the firing of a short gun furnished with a,

gimlet-screw, by which it maybe attached to a door-jamb or other support in proper position. The dog is a jointed prop pivoted to the rear end of the barrel. For tripping the same an extensible and articulated lever or trigger is provided, which may be arranged so as to be moved by a door or window, if opened, or connected to one or several movable objects, or have a bait applied thereto. When employed with protectingwires the arrangement may be such that an alarm will be sounded if the wires are either moved or cut. The device may be further adapted to be fired from the hand. \Vhen not in use the article may be compacted so as to be carried in the pocket.

The invention consists in the said peculiar construction of dog and trigger, and in the peculiar combination and arrangement of the several parts, as hereinafter fully set forth.

Description of the Drawing.

Figure 1 is a perspective view, illustrating the construction and operation of the device, and its application as a burglar-alarm to secure. a door. Fig.2 is a perspective view of the device compacted and in inverted position. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the device in compacted condition.

General Description.

prop, f, and a trigger or tripping-lever, g. The

gimlet-screw c for attaching the device to a door-jamb, A, or other support, is hinged to a properly-arranged lug, 2, by screw-pintle 3 and mer by shackle 8 pivoted to the latter.

clamping-nut 4. By turning the barrel on the axes of the screw 0 and pintle 3 it may be readily pointed in any direction. The screw is preferably reversible, so that the device may be applied to either a right-hand or left-hand door without inverting it, which may be accomplished by properly arranging the hingelug but the device works equally well in inverted position. The hammer d is hinged between a pair of lugs, 5, on the top of the barrel at its muzzle end, and the free end of thehammer is constructed with a projection, 6, presenting a suitably-formed face or faces to engage with the dog f. The spring 0 is attached at one end, by screw 7, to the breech end of the barrel, andis connected to the ham- The dog or prop f and the trigger or tripping-lever g are made of sheet-steel, and are pivoted, respectively, to the breech end and the bottom of the barrel by screws 9 10. The dog is composed of two sections, 11 12, united, by a pintle-rivet, at the upper end of the inner member so as to yield or fold laterally. The outer member or point 12 is tapered and rounded so as to constitute a delicate support. The trigger g is composed of three sections or members, 13

14 15, one of which, 14, is slotted so as to be extensible in line with the inner member, be-

ing attached thereto by a dovetailed tongue;

and the outer member 15 is pivoted so as to be turned laterally, and is slotted, also, so as to be extended more or less, as required. A

clamp-nut, 16, is applied to the pivot of the outer member to render the joint rigid. A

notch, 17 in the rear ends of the inner members engages with a projection, 18, on the lower end of the inner member of the dog to connect the two parts. This notch serves also to receive the end of the point of the dog to retain the same when it is folded. The trigger folds also within the compass of the barrel, and is secured by a stud, 19, at the extremity of the outer member, engaging with a notch, 20, in the barrel, through the slot, and a corresponding opening in the inner members.

More than one of the different sections of the tripping-lever may obviously be employed,

if preferred; and other similar details admit the point of the straightened dog is engaged with one of the faces of the projection 6. While the axes of the pivot and hinge-joint of the dog are in line the same constitutes a secure support, and it is tripped by throwing the hingejoiut laterally out of line, when the pressure of the spring instantly folds the dog, its point having first slipped laterally from the engaging-face of the hammer. The two faces represented are respectively flat and convex. The use of the latter obviously renders the dog much more sensitive. The sections of the dog and trigger are sufiiciently flexible to permit of their being folded and secured in the manner stated.

The device may be set as a burglar-alarm.

the cords or wires were severed, the released weight would actuate the trigger.. It is also proposed to construct the device with a stock or pistol handle and trigger, so as to adapt it to be fired from the hand.

Claims.

The following is claimed as new herein:

1. The pivoted dog or prop f, jointed and arranged to operate as described, for the purposes specified.

2. The extensible and articulated trigger or tripping-lever g, constructed and arranged as described, in combination with the pivoted dog or prop f and hammer d, for the purpose set forth.

3. The improved burglar-alarm and animaltrap gun, composed of the barrel a and the nipple b, supporting-screw a, hammer d, spripg 6, dog or prop f, and trigger or tripping-lever g, constructed and combined substantially as herein described, for the purposes set forth.

W. H. MGPHERSON.

Witnesses:

WALLACE WILSON, (J. A. M. PULLIAM. 

